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1Introduction to
Critical Thinking

SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Sect 04, 06

Minna Holopainen
SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Agenda
Course overview
Introduction to critical thinking
Reasoning
Propositions

Photo Sonja Holopainen

SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Course overview:
your first homework
Course outline
Syllabus
Deliverables
Learning philosophy
How to study for COMM 41
Canvas LMS
Peer Mentor

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SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Introduction to Critical Thinking

SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Critical Thinking
Evaluating whether we should be
convinced that some claim is true
or some argument is good.
Formulating good arguments.
Freewrite: How do these skills
apply in your life?

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SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Discourse

Explanation

Argument

Description

SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Discourse
Written or spoken communication
or debate (e.g., everyday
discourse, political discourse);
a formal discussion of a topic in
speech or writing
Public discourse = conversation
or talk among the people relating
to issues of common concern
Discourse defines the socially
constructed boundaries for a
topic, and and it shapes our
perception and reasoning. It is
revealed in language.

Following Oxford Dictionary for Mac OSX, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler,
Anne Marie Todd.

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SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Explanation
Makes something more
understandable
Tells why or how something
happens/happened
Contains two things:
1. explanandum, the thing which
is supposed to be explained
2. explanans, the statements that
do the actual explaining
The vase is broken because Houdini
jumped on the table and dropped it
on the floor. It wasnt me.

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SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Description
Describes the world
Declarative sentences
The Sun's hot corona
continuously expands in space
creating the solar wind, a
hypersonic stream of charged
particles that extends to the
heliopause at roughly 100 AU.
(Wikipedia, 2009)

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SJSU Spring 2014 Comm 41 Holopainen

Argument
Tells why a claim should be
accepted
An attempt to convince
someone that a particular claim
(=conclusion/issue) is true
P1: All men are mortal.
P2: Socrates is a man.
C: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Picture from http://shaunmiller.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/socrates.jpg without permission.

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PARTS

ANSWERS A QUESTION

FUNCTION

EXPLANATION

The thing which is

supposed to be explained
+ The statements that do
the actual explaining

Why or how something

happened?

To make something more

understandable;
clarification

DESCRIPTION

Declarative sentences

What is the world like?

To describe the world

ARGUMENT

Claim
+ Reasons/grounds
+ Premises

Why should we accept the

claim?

To support a claim

Source: Kakkuri-Knuuttila, M.-L. (2003). Argumentti ja kritiikki: Lukemisen, keskustelun ja vakuuttamisen taidot (5th ed.), p. 63. Oy Yliopistokustannus University Press Finland Ltd.

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New concepts
Discourse
Explanation
Description
Argument

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Reasoning

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Reasoning
Our brains receive sensory
components of reality piece by
piece.
From those pieces, we compose
whole ideas by reasoning.

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Reasoning is rational
mental activity.
Selecting data
Coordinating data
Interpreting data
Applying data
Reasoning is dierent from
recollection or imagination.

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SJSU Fall 2012 Comm 41 Holopainen

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Model of Reasoning

Data
(premises + evidence)

/grounds

Reasoning
/warrant

Claim
/argument

Claim/argument is a declarative sentence.

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Claim
A declarative sentence that is
either true or false
Socrates is mortal.

Picture from http://www.utilitarianism.com/socrates.jpg without permission.

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Premises
A collection of claims which are
given as the reasons for believing
the conclusion is true
All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.

Picture from http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/socrates1.jpg without

permission.

SJSU Fall 2012 Comm 41 Holopainen

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Argument
= Premises + conclusion

Tells why a claim should be

accepted
An attempt to convince
someone that a particular claim
(=conclusion/issue) is true
P1: All men are mortal.
P2: Socrates is a man.
C: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Picture from http://shaunmiller.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/socrates.jpg without permission.

SJSU Fall 2012 Comm 41 Holopainen

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New concepts
Reasoning
Claim
Premise
Conclusion

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Propositions

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Types of Propositions
Proposition of fact
Proposition of value
Proposition of policy
Proposition of conjecture

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Proposition of Fact
Proposes whether something is
or is not true or false. Frequently
verifiable, and often takes a more
objective approach. Draws on
logical inferences.
Whales use a complex
communication system.

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Proposition of Value
Takes a more evaluative position.
Judges whether something is
good/bad, right/wrong, just/
unjust, ethical/non-ethical, etc.
Judges the worth of something.
Killing animals is wrong.

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Proposition of Policy
Suggests a specific course of
action.
U.S. government should protect
its citizens access to foreign oil
reserves.

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Proposition of
Conjecture
A hypothetic statement about
something that might happen in
the future; supposition; what
would happen if...
Benettons winning the formulas
would help the Italian auto
industry.

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New concepts
Proposition of fact
Proposition of value
Proposition of policy
Proposition of conjecture

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For Jan 31 11:59 pm

Read
Canvas course front page
Course overview (Canvas)
Ch 1 Critical thinking: Why its
important
Assignments
Online study packet #1: Introduction
to critical thinking (Canvas; approx.
3.5 hrs)
Register for COMM 80

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For the next class

Read
Ch 2 Reason and emotion
Article Analysis and Critical Analysis
assignment sheets
Assignments
Online study packet #2: Reason &
emotion (Canvas; approx. 6 hrs)

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